Against the backdrop of growing tension over border skirmishes and diplomatic visa rows, Pakistani envoy Abdul Basit on Saturday stressed his country`s commitment to improve bilateral ties with India to ensure development and better health for people of both countries.

India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, knowledge exchange and business ties reflecting the desire of both countries to deepen and widen their age-old ties, an official said on Friday.

On the second day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's China visit, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar​ on Friday addressed a press conference in Beijing. He said that there was fair amount of discussion on strengthening peace & tranquility on the border.

India and the US on Wednesday took stock of their bilateral ties and implementation of decisions taken at the summit between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January besides reviewing the security scenario in the region.

China and Japan held their first security talks in four years on Thursday and agreed to keep alive and foster a nascent recovery in bilateral ties plagued by the legacy of Japan`s wartime aggression and a territorial dispute.

The US and India have a "historic opportunity" to dramatically enhance bilateral ties and America's effort should be to influence rather than direct in the relationship, experts have told lawmakers here.

Pakistan would be among the countries which Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar would visit as part of his tour of SAARC nations during which he would utilize the opportunity to discuss "bilateral issues", India`s external affairs ministry said Friday.

Noting that there were "challenges" that needed to be overcome to further strengthen ties between India and US, Congressperson Tulsi Gabbard on Saturday said both the nations have a great opportunity to work together in various sectors and "intentions and hearts" were moving in the right direction.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on visiting Bangladesh President Md Abdul Hamid and conveyed to him that there was "wish" and "will" on the part of the new government in India to strengthen bilateral ties with that country.

Amid criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent foreign tours, the government today said the trips have advanced the pursuit of secure and stable environment that India needs besides reviving long "neglected" important ties.

DNA analyses the controversial remark made by Aligarh Muslim University vice chancellor Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah that has drawn severe criticism for rejecting the demands of Women's College to gain access into the organisation's Maulana Azad Library, saying if girls were permitted in, there would